Call for official review of live music licensing
A Liberal Democrat peer has called for an "official government review" into the licensing of live music in pubs and other venues.
During a debate in the House of Lords yesterday, Lord Clement-Jones, the LibDem spokesperson for Culture, Media and Sport, said fresh legislation was required to regulate live music.
Though the government is currently reviewing the guidance for the Licensing Act, Clement-Jones said it would simply be "tinkering around the edges". "It is the Act itself that needs changing," he said.
He attacked the bureaucracy that now faced pubs wishing to host live music.
"Anyone with an existing premises licence who wishes to provide live music on a permanent basis, no matter how small or infrequent, has formally to apply to vary their original licence," he said.
"That can cost over £1,500 and constitutes a considerable outlay for smaller venues. So much for the apparently greater flexibility provided for smaller venues."
Among the issues that Clement-Jones said needed considering were:
- A definition of 'incidental music'
- A possible exemption for micro venues and/or unamplified music
- A possible increase in duration for Temporary Event Notices (TENs) and the number permitted per year
The government is due to respond soon to the recommendations made by the Live Music Forum following its appraisal of the Licensing Act and its effect on live music.
The forum's criticisms broadly focussed on the Act and the guidance under it, as oppose to local authorities interpretations.
Live music campaigners previously hit out at the Act, claiming the government's promised explosion in live music had not emerged.
The Licensing Act saw the scrapping of the 'two-in-a-bar' rule, which allowed venues to host two or less musicians without needing a licence.
